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CHAR 2/133 Public and political: general correspondence.

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CHAR 2/133/1

Letter from [WSC] to Sir Joseph Dobbie declining his invitation to address the National Citizens' Union in Edinburgh [Scotland] because his literary work is in arrears and he already has many public engagements. Carbon copy.

Letter from Sir Joseph Dobbie (42 Melville Street, Edinburgh, [Scotland]) to WSC (Crockham Hill, Sevenoaks, [Kent]) arguing that a new Liberal Unionist organisation pledged to oppose Socialism in cooperation with the Conservatives would receive much support in Scotland and inviting WSC to address a meeting of the National Citizen's Union in Edinburgh.

Letter from Lord Weir [earlier Sir William Weir] (Holm Foundry, Cathcart, Glasgow, [Scotland]) to WSC (2 Sussex Square) enclosing and summarising CHAR 2/133/7 and urging him to emphasise the importance of attention being given to the conditions in the export industries.

Letter from R Somervell, honorary secretary of the Sevenoaks and Holmesdale Hospital (19 The Drive, Sevenoaks, [Kent]) to WSC asking whether he would like to become a subscriber to the hospital, offering to show WSC and CSC round it, agreeing that Liberals and Conservatives should cooperate against Socialism but wondering whether, in view of the fact that government intervention has increased in such fields as employment and education, it is unrealistic to resist it in the economic sphere by adhering to complete Free Trade.

Letter from [WSC] to Lady Fitzgerald (Bute House, South Audley Street, [London]) to saying that she need not stage a political dinner especially on his account but that he hopes to avail himself of her hospitality in the summer. Carbon copy.

Letter from Lady Fitzgerald (Bute House, South Audley Street, [London]) to WSC inviting him to name a day when he could attend a political dinner hosted by her, the last such dinner attended by Austen Chamberlain and Sir Robert Horne [later Lord Horne] having been successful.

Letter from Sir Archibald Salvidge, chairman of the Liverpool Constitutional Association (2 Sir Thomas Street, Liverpool) to WSC asking him to make no reference to Ulster at the forthcoming anti-Socialist mass meeting and luncheon in Liverpool in order not to antagonise the large number of Orangemen in the constituency.

Letter from C H H Burleigh (7 Wilbury Crescent, Hove, Sussex) to [Maurice Bonham Carter] asking whether he could choose two or three of WSC's pictures for the Brighton Autumn Exhibition. Sent with CHAR 2/133/14.

Letter from [WSC] to R Somervell (19 The Drive, Sevenoaks, Kent) saying that when he has settled down at Chartwell he will be glad to discuss with him "the thorny political topic to which you refer in your letter" [the question of cooperation between Liberals and Conservatives against Socialism, and whether complete Free Trade is still practical].

Letter from Lord Halifax [2nd Viscount, earlier Charles Wood] (Hickleton, Doncaster, [Yorkshire]) to WSC praising his speech [to a Conservative meeting in Liverpool], stating that he thinks WSC has fully vindicated himself with regard to the Dardanelles and the war generally, and arguing that the incidental advantages of the present Labour government being in power are outweighed by the disadvantages.

Letter from [WSC] to Lord Halifax [2nd Viscount, earlier Charles Wood] expressin encouragement that Halifax, along with most of the rest of educated public opinion, believes that WSC's wartime policies on Antwerp and the Dardanelles have been vindicated, and that he agrees with WSC on the dangers arising from a Socialist government.

Letter from Sir Samuel Hoare [later Lord Templewood] (18 Cadogan Gardens, [London]) to WSC congratulating him on his two speeches to Conservative audiences in Liverpool, which he thinks have greatly strengthened WSC's position with the Conservative party. Refers to WSC's Conservative friends' anticipation of the debate on the McKenna duties and to WSC's satisfactory talk with Austen Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin [later Lord Baldwin].

Letter from 17th Lord Derby (Coworth Park, Sunningdale, Ascot, [Berkshire]) to WSC congratulating him on his two speeches to Conservative audiences in Liverpool and referring to his (Derby's) slow recovery from illness.

Letter from [WSC] to 17th Lord Derby (Coworth Park, Sunningdale, Ascot, [Berkshire]) referring to Derby' serious illness, expressing satisfaction about the two Conservative meetings he addressed in Liverpool, at one of which Sir Archibald Salvidge made an important statement against general tariffs, and hoping that Derby will use his influence to ensure that seats are not thrown away to the Socialists as a result of votes being split between Conservatives and Liberals. Carbon copy.

Newspaper cutting: adaptation [by Charles Watt] of "Pilgrim's Progress" implicitly criticising David Lloyd George for not living up to the ideals of William Gladstone and John Bright. With accompanying note from Watts to WSC, [1924].

Letter from 17th Lord Derby (Derby House, Stratford Place, [London]) to WSC promising to support Liberals who seem to have more chance of winning seats than Conservatives, as he did successfully in the 1922 general election, but adding that his influence in Lancashire has waned. Argues that a separate Liberal party should continue to exist because two thirds of its current supporters would go to Labour, and offers to find a seat for WSC in Lancashire.

Letter from Alfred Clegg, president and chairman of the Royton Division Conservative Association (31 College Road, Oldham, [Lancashire]) to WSC conveying the Association's invitation to contest the constituency.

Letter from [WSC] to 6th Lord Spencer stating that he has not yet finally decided about the invitation to stand for the Kettering Division of Northamptonshire but does not wish to delay the plans of the [Conservative] Association there. Carbon copy.

Letter from [WSC] to [R A Butler, president of the Union Society, Cambridge] declining the invitation to take part in the Society's final debate because his literary work is in arrears and he cannot add to his public engagements. Carbon copy.

Letter from Sir Eric Geddes (55 &56 Pall Mall, London) to WSC trusting that CSC is not seriously ill, agreeing with WSC on electricity and the repopulation of the countryside by garden cities, advocating the development of rural industrial centres and recommending that WSC should talk to Charles Merz about electricity.

Letter from [WSC] to Sir Eric Geddes reporting that CSC is resting under doctor's orders and expressing the wish to talk to Geddes about electrical development, on which WSC will touch at his meeting in Birmingham. Carbon copy.

Letter from Sir Eric Geddes (55 &56 Pall Mall, London) to WSC (2 Sussex Square) inviting WSC or CSC to visit the Dunlop tyre factory near Birmingham when WSC speaks at the meeting of the Federation of British Industry.

Letter from Sir Oswyn Murray (Admiralty) to WSC suggesting how he should reply to a letter [see CHAR 2/133/44] asking him to clarify his statement that naval long service pensions were simply deferred pay.

Letter from Sir John Lister Kaye (Guards Club, Brook Street, London) to WSC approving his letter to the "Weekly Despatch" on the need for Liberals and Conservatives to unite against Socialism and stressing the need to prevent the nationalisation of the coal industry and the introduction of a large publicly funded housebuilding programme.

Letter from [Clarice Fisher] (Chartwell) to Rev A S V Blunt (St John's Vicarage, 4 Cambridge Square, [London]) conveying WSC' s acceptance of the invitation to become a vicepresident of the Paddington branch of the League of Nations Union.

Letter from Rev A S V Blunt, chairman of the Paddington branch of the League of Nations Union (St John's Vicarage, 4 Cambridge Square, [London]), to WSC inviting him to become a vice president of the branch.

Letter from [Clarice Fisher] (Chartwell) to James Shaw Simpson (109 Bath Street, Glasgow, [Scotland]) stating that WSC is unable to accept the invitation to address a meeting under the auspices of the National Citizens' Union. Carbon copy.

Letter from J N Murdoch, president, and James Shaw Simpson, organising secretary, of the Scottish Council of the National Citizens' Union (109 Bath Street, Glasgow, [Scotland]) to WSC (2 Sussex Square) inviting him to address a meeting in Glasgow under the auspices of the Union and describing the organisation's anti-Socialist stance.

Letter from James McNeill (Office of the High Commissioner, Irish Free State, York House, 15 Regent Street, London) to WSC sending a small packet addressed to WSC by President William Cosgrave [see CHAR 2/133/64].

Letter from Sir Murland Evans (Folkestone, Kent) to WSC enclosing CHAR 2/133/66 and asking for an introduction to some one at the Foreign Office to whom he can state his claim [for compensation for his losses resulting from the heavy fall in the French exchange].

Speech by James Fairbairn, chairman of the Barrier and General Trust Ltd, at the company's ordinary general meeting, and statement by Sir Murland Evans of his grievances against the French government which led to him suffering losses in connection with his purchase of shares in the Societe des Hotels de l'Etoile. Printed. Sent with CHAR 2/133/65.

Letter from [WSC] (Chartwell) to Sir Murland Evans (27 Old Jewry, [London]) offering to forward [Evans' account of his grievances against the French government connected with his purchase of French hotel shares; see CHAR 2/133/66] to Sir William Tyrrell. Carbon copy.

Letter from 2nd Lord Knutsford [earlier Sir Sydney Holland] (Kneesworth Hall, Royston, Hertfordshire) to WSC on: the bill to be introduced in the House of Lords by 1st Lord Danesfort [earlier John Butcher]; the immoral and blasphemous publications and practices of promoters of Socialism and "Proletarism" revealed to Knutsford by the secretary of the British Empire League; the need for WSC to take a lead in exposing these movements.

Letter from [WSC] to 2nd Lord Knutsford [earlier Sir Sydney Holland] (Kneesworth Hall, Royston, Hertfordshire) on: the allegedly immoral Socialist pamphlet which Knutsford sent him; WSC's belief that the bill to be proposed by 1st Lord Danesfort [earlier John Butcher] is not in a practical form; WSC's wish to see Wilson, the secretary of the British Empire League. Carbon copy.

Letter from [WSC] (Chartwell) to Sir Samuel Hoare [later Lord Templewood] (18 Cadogan Gardens, [London]) asserting that he can develop a successful independent candidature in the Abbey Division of Westminster, promising to draw up an outline of the arrangement for the cooperation of Conservatives and Liberals in certain constituencies and suggesting that candidates standing under this arrangement should be called Liberal Conservatives, citing precedents in Canada and Spain. Carbon copy.

Letter from Sir Samuel Hoare [later Lord Templewood] (18 Cadogan Gardens, [London]) to WSC on: his belief, resulting from a meeting with Stanley Baldwin [later Lord Baldwin] and F Stanley Jackson, that there will be trouble if WSC stands in Westminster and that they have another constituency in mind for him; the Conservative view of Frederick Guest's proposals for electoral cooperation between Liberals and Conservatives in some constituencies.

Letter from James Shaw Simpson, secretary of the Scottish Council of the National Citizens' Union (109 Bath Street, Glasgow, [Scotland]) to WSC (Chartwell) renewing the invitation to address a meeting in Glasgow under the auspices of the Council in the autumn.

Letter from [WSC] (Chartwell) to Claude Lowther (43 Catherine Street, [London]) thanking him for thinking of him (WSC) in connection with the vacancy in the Lewes Division of Sussex but stating that he does not wish for the expense and worry of a by-election at present and that he believes that Conservative Central Office will arrange something satisfactory for himself and his supporters at the general election. He would like to come to Herstmonceux [Sussex] but is at present absorbed in moving into and rebuilding Chartwell. Carbon copy.

Letter from Claude Lowther (43 Catherine Street, [London]) to WSC on his recommendation of WSC to the vacancy in the Lewes Division of Sussex and his belief that "the idiots at the Central Office" should support WSC if he accepted the programme of Stanley Baldwin [later Lord Baldwin] except for Preference. Invites WSC to Hurstmonceux [Sussex].

Letter from A Webster, private secretary to the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa (Trafalgar Square, London) to WSC quoting a telegram from [General Jan Smuts] to WSC thanking him for his message and sending best wishes.

Letter from F Stanley Jackson (Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, [London]) to WSC expressing the hope that a working arrangement [between Conservatives and Liberals] can be devised, "tho' the difficulties in the way are not small.".

Letter from Clarice Fisher (Chartwell) to W H Parker (66 St Martin's Lane, [London]) stating that WSC refused to pay him the five guineas he is claiming for the canvassing he did for WSC [during the Westminster election] because such a payment would be illegal. Carbon copy.

Letter from Andrew Gibb (5 Paper Buildings, Temple, [London]) to WSC thanking him for his appreciative note and cuttings and expressing his desire to get into politics because "the Bar is very bad just now." Thinks he may be able to obtain something in Scotland and adds: "I am quite done with the Socialists.".

Letter from [WSC] (Chartwell) to Ronald Waterhouse enclosing an article from "The Nation" containing an "abominably mischievous" passage and suggesting that Herbert Asquith [later 1st Lord Oxford and Asquith] be approached to get the paper to cease such attacks. Carbon copy.